Interactive Strategic Game Illustrating Effects of Different Investments Over Time Under Differing Economic Conditions

ABSTRACT

An electronic media process for an interactive strategic game illustrating the effects of different investments over time under differing economic conditions. In certain embodiments it can be played over a network and in others without a network. As a user&#39;s timeline position changes the economic indicators change which in turn affect the user&#39;s investment values. Users buy and sell investments based on upcoming economic changes trying to anticipate how those changes will affect investment values. Users are able follow different investments over time which may help them in their own investments. Achievement awards and or recognition are obtained for obtaining certain milestones such as dollar limit within the shortest timeline period.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE AND AUTHORIZATION

Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material thatis subject to copyright protection. Reproduction as needed for thePatent and Trademark Office records or files is permitted however all ofthe original copyright rights are retained by the copyright holder.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a user seeing the effects of investingin various types of investments and how those investments might performover an extended period of time in a constantly changing economicenvironment—similar to economic environment changes that have actuallyoccurred in past history.

2. Background

Throughout all of history there have been processes for teaching othersabout financial investments—some easier for people to follow thanothers. Most have been somewhat difficult for a user to comprehend andactually be able to turn that comprehension into the ability to relatethe learned concepts to their real life situations.

Through the development of video games and the internet it has beensuggested that individuals respond better to learning when visual cuesare also provided in addition to written material.

For some individuals the quick movement and activity of action typegames is not their preference and prefer strategy type games. A strategygame refers to a game where the quickness of the eye hand coordinationisn't a factor in game results. Instead, results are based on thecalculated input from the individual playing the game after they havebased it on various game supplied series of pieces of information.

These types of games often have a relatively short time period but it isdesirable to have it be able to be played over a period of timedetermined by the individual. Whereas one individual might make a ‘move’(a place in the game where the individual's input is required) in ashort time such as a few moments, another individual may takesignificantly longer—even several days or longer. They would like forthe end results to not be based on the quickness of the move, but on thequality of the move.

Some individuals also prefer to do certain activities by themselves, butthen still want to compare their individual results to others. They'dalso like a way to challenge themselves again by attempting the sameactivity to try and improve prior results.

Certain individuals also like something where they can have reasonablesuccess in playing a game without a tremendous learning curve, but thenthey also like to have something where they could continually belearning and playing at a more sophisticated level as they learn some ofthe finer parts of the game.

Other aspects individuals want include the ability to play differentgames yet still have them be based on a similar premise to the gamesthey've already played. Having the ability to actually be able to designthe game or create certain game conditions in which to play also havebeen shown to increase certain user's enjoyment. Being able to sharegames that they created is also something that has been popular. In afinancial game, being able to vary the selection of investment choiceswould be desirable.

Individuals can sometimes be shy about trying to ask questions aboutsome concepts of how investments work and how they might play out overan extended time and how they might compare to other investments. Havinga process where the individual could learn some of these concepts mightmake it easier for them to ask about and to know about actual investmentopportunities in their life.

Individuals would also like the ability to interact with other users ofthe system in a public way where other users would be able to see andread such communication or alternately, privately where two or moreusers of the system could communicate privately. Such communicationwould be desirable so that an individual would be able to explorestrategy concepts with others.

In summary a process where individuals could experiment with projectinghow particular investments might react in a changing economicenvironment and how to be able to see how certain changes might affectthose investments would be beneficial to individuals in illustratingthese concepts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention satisfies the aforementioned list and more byproviding an interactive process that includes a gaming element andpromotes an individual's education about investments as well as a socialnetwork in order to communicate with other users of the process.

Strategic moves by the user and interactive processes allow this game toillustrate the concepts of short term and long term investments and howthey relate in changing economic conditions—similar to how our owninvestments are affected by the economic changes that occur in ourcountry and the world. Being able to identify and evaluate thoseconditions should help the user in their own personal investments.

Game limits are established in each game establishing the upper dollarlimit (such as 1 billion dollars) for successful completion as well asthe maximum time line length a user could play (such as 150 years). Highscores would be recorded for highest amount in the shortest time,shortest time to get to the upper dollar limit as well as otherstatistical awards. Other forms of recognition/award/prizes may also begiven to high score users.

Also disclosed are methods that a user could use in order to play thegame over a communication network (Web version) that may include a localarea network, a wide area network and a global network or anycombination. Additionally, methods are show to where this could beplayed on an individual computer (stand alone version) withoutcontinuous connection to the network.

Additional disclosure are methods of how the users can design gameparameters which include defining investment categories and types aswell as their sensitivity to economic conditions. Users can alsoestablish their own economic indicator categories and supply their ownhistorical trends. Then game play can be made using these parameters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The description of this invention includes the appended drawings and inwhich:

FIG. 1 (Process Overview) is a flow diagram illustrating a method forplaying and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holdinginvestments in changing economic conditions according to one embodimentof this invention;

FIG. 2 (Network basic setup) is a block diagram of a system for playingand illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investmentsin changing economic conditions according to one embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 3 (Stand alone basic setup) is a block diagram of a system forplaying and illustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holdinginvestments in changing economic conditions according to one embodimentof this invention;

FIG. 4 (Display of Investments) is a flow diagram illustrating a methodfor displaying the investments in playing and illustrating the conceptsof buying, selling and holding investments in changing economicconditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 (Buy Sell Investments) is a flow diagram illustrating a methodfor buying and selling investments in playing and illustrating theconcepts of buying, selling and holding investments in changing economicconditions according to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 (Time Progressions) is a flow diagram illustrating a method fortime progression in playing and illustrating the concepts of buying,selling and holding investments in changing economic conditionsaccording to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 (Investment Calculations) is a flow diagram illustrating a methodfor valuing the investments along the timeline in playing andillustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments inchanging economic conditions according to one embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 8 (Message displays of future projections) is a flow diagramillustrating a method for displaying economic messages in playing andillustrating the concepts of buying, selling and holding investments inchanging economic conditions according to one embodiment of thisinvention;

FIG. 9 (Borrowing) is a flow diagram illustrating a method fordisplaying economic messages in playing and illustrating the concepts ofbuying, selling and holding investments in changing economic conditionsaccording to one embodiment of this invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMOBODIMENTS

The interactive strategic games of this invention show the principalsand underlying concepts of buying and selling investments in changingeconomic conditions and how one might interpret and react by buying orselling certain investments in response to those changing economicconditions. Concepts illustrated to the user include how differentinvestments and businesses react to changes in certain conditions andhow certain investments might do better than others. Risk is also taughtdue to the inherent nature of risks in investments.

FIG. 1—Process Overview

In FIG. 1, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method100 (Initial Screen) is the initial screen a user would see ininitiating the game. In addition to a possible welcome message this mayprovide a listing of high scores or an awards list. This method may alsoprovide for a user to transfer to method 132 (Instructions—ParameterDetail) in order to obtain game instructions and may include detailed orsummary information about games that could be played. Method 132 mayalso include information about investment categories and specificinvestments. Method 132 may also include information about economiccategories of games.

Method 100 may provide for a user to enter their user information andthen proceed to method 114 (Logon). Method 100 (Main Screen) may providefor a user to proceed directly to method 126 (Newsgroup and socialinteraction) without going through a login process. In such a casemethod 126 may place restrictions on that user until method 105(Logon-Register) is performed.

Method 100 (Main Screen) may provide for a user to proceed directly tomethod 124 (High Score Detail) without going through a login process. Insuch a case method 124 may place restrictions on that user until method105 (Logon-Register) is performed.

Method 105 (Logon-Register) provides for a user to choose to Logon tothe game or to register if they have not already registered. Method 110will determine which they want and if they want to logon it will directthem to method 114 (Logon). If method 110 (Need to register) determinesthey want to register then it will direct them to method 112 (RegisterProcess). Method 112 will provide for a user to determine a User Namethey'd like to use and may include as well a password. After that thismethod will update or add to a user file which may be in a database.Method 112 may also include other user information such as emailaddress, full name, address, phone number, country, dates, age, creditcard information, subscription information, access times, internetaddress (IP) as well as other information. Once verification that theuser name is not already in use by the game the user will be transferredto method 114 (Logon) which may automatically process the user's newlogon information. Method 105 may provide for a previously registereduser to logon automatically.

Method 114 (Logon) will provide for verification of the user's logininformation and may perform other verification checks such asdetermining if the user has been banned from the system for reasonsrelating to the user's subscription, licensing among other reasons. Uponsuccessful login the method will transfer to method 120 (Main screen).

In some cases, at method 105 (Logon-Register) a user may not want toregister in any form in which to play the game. In such cases method 105might transfer control to method 116 (Assign as temporary user). Ifmethod 116 is used it may do a validity check which would include butnot be limited to on the user to determine that it was a user and not anautomated system and/or that the network address is either in anapproved list and/or isn't in a restricted list. After a validity check,if done, then method 105 (Logon-Register) would assign a temporary tokenor user name to this user so the user could still play the game. Method105 might flag this user in such a way that other operations of the gameare unavailable and/or operate in manner less than a registered user.

Method 120 (Main screen) is a branching off point where a user canselect various operations of the game. This method may provide foraccess to method 126 (Newsgroup and social interaction). Method 126 mayinclude the ability for users of this game to exchange ideas andexperiences. This may include the ability to categorize as well assearch these exchanges. Additionally, this method may provide for theability for users to converse not only in text but also other mediaforms such as but not limited to video, audio and speech. This methodmay provide for users to share games they have made.

Method 120 (Main screen) may also provide access to method 128 (DefineInvestments). Access to this method (128) may be restricted to systemadministrators, developers and qualified users. This would allow for thedefining of the Investment Categories such as Cash, Business, RealEstate and Finance. Further definition of the individual investments inthose categories may also be able to be defined in this method. Forexample, for the Business category, the investments might be AircraftManufacturing, Transportation and Research. In the Real Estate categorythe investments might include Single family housing, Small Apartmentcomplex, Office Building and Hotels. Finance might include Savingsaccount, Treasury Bills, Small Capital Stocks, Futures and Foreignmarkets. These investments are further defined as to their sensitivityto each of the Economic Indicators in use for the game being defined.Initial unit costs for these investments may be defined here or assignedbased on an automated calculation of this method or some combinationtherein.

Method 120 (Main screen) may also provide access to method 130 (DefineGame Parameters). Access to this method (130) may be restricted tosystem administrators, developers and qualified users. This would allowfor the adding of games and/or the defining of the game parametersincluding but not limited to such things as name, description, maximumlength of the timeline of the game and ability for the user to incurdebt (Method 400 (Borrowing)). An example of maximum length might be 150years. The game parameters would also include the minimum and maximumrange for a given Economic Indicator. For example, Interest might have aminimum of 4% and a maximum of 18% meaning that the interest rate couldfluctuate between 4 and 18% during the course of the game. This processmight also include the ability to control the number of years thatfluctuation occurs. For example the 4-18 % might be set to occurrandomly over each 10 year periods in the game.

This method may also provide for the establishment of one or moreEconomic Indicators. From this method these indicators could be definedand established at points along the timeline. Examples of some Economicindicators might be the Prime interest rate, Housing starts,Unemployment estimates, Manufacturing production and the Stock Index.This method would calculate or allow to be entered the economic indexesacross the timeline. This may be done automatically based on analgorithm or it may be input either manually or from a file transfer orsome combination.

Each timeline period may also provide for the ability to includemessages (or signals) related to the upcoming timeline periods for oneor all of the Economic Indicators (FIG. 8 Message displays of futureprojections). These messages will be provided to the user to help themdetermine which direction a particular economic index might be headed.For example, knowing that there was a likelihood of interest ratesdeclining over the next few periods would help an investor buy and sellinvestments based on that knowledge. As in real economic circumstancesthese clues are not always easy to decipher and aren't always accurate.These messages may have a certain erroneous factor in order to moresimulate actual conditions an investor might face. These messages orsignal triggers could be done automatically based on an algorithm or maybe input either manually or from a file transfer or some combination.

Method 120 (Main Screen) may also provide for a user to transfer tomethod 132 (Instructions—Parameter Detail) in order to obtain gameinstructions and may include detailed or summary information about gamesthat could be played.

Method 120 (Main Screen) may also provide for a user to transfer tomethod 160 (End) which would clean up if necessary from user'stermination. This also may allow for a logging out of the user.

Method 120 (Main Screen) may also provide for a user to display ortransfer to method 122 (User Area). Method 122 would provide informationabout the user. It may include the ability to change some or all but notlimited to the following—User's User Name, Actual Name, Address, Phone,Country, Email, Subscription information and Credit card information. Itmay also include but not limited to information on the user's in processgame(s), completed games whether successful or not, High Scores for theuser and for the system and user defined games, investments, debt andeconomic indicators. Method 122 may also provide for communicationfunctions to other users of the system and outside the system in text,video, audio and/or other means. This method may provide for users toshare games they have made.

Method 120 (Main Screen) may also provide for a user to display ortransfer to method 124 (High Score Detail). Method 124 would providehigh game score reporting among other statistical information includingbut not limited to investments, historical timeline positions andeconomic indicators. This method may include completed and uncompletedgames and may be broken down by different scenario games. It may alsoallow for users to define how these reports should be displayed as itrelates to formatting of the report and also it may provide for users tobe able to select the data they wish to display.

Method 134 (Choose new game or in process game) would allow a user toinitiate the playing of a game. A user may be able to choose to continuea previously started game as well as choosing a new system defined game.Method 134 may also provide for the user to start Method 136 (Play Game)using a game the user had previously defined. This method may also allowa user to start Method 136 using a game defined by another user.

Method 136 may also provide for a user to define items to enhance theirexperience. These items may include but not limited to degree ofdifficulty, level of game messages, erroneous factors, group play,player communication, audio and other electronic feedback or anycombination therein.

Method 136 (Play Game) would provide for the actual game play. FIG.2-FIG. 9 illustrate this operation in detail.

Method 136 may also provide for communication functions to other usersof the system and outside the system in text, video, audio and/or othermeans.

Method 136 may also provide for one or more users to participate in thesame game.

Method 136 would provide for method 138 (Game End) and it would providefor any necessary cleanup needed from method 136 (Play Game). This mightinclude closing database connections and/or program files.

Method 150 (Update User statistics and high scores) would provide forUser game information to be updated. This method may update gameinformation updates such as, but not limited to—Game identifier, totalplay time, complete flags, incomplete flags, system high score update,user high score updates, subscription updates, game end time, timelineposition, investment holdings and detail and debt positions and history.

Method 150 may also allow for returning a user to method 120 (MainScreen) or to method 160 (End).

As described earlier, method 160 (End) which would cleanup if necessaryfrom user's termination. This also may allow for a logging out of theuser.

FIG. 2—Network Basic Setup

In FIG. 2, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method200 (Client) may be of any type of single computer or device thatenables access to a web page or web pages.

Method 200 may also provide for special use access to method 210(Server(s)) in order to provide overall method updates and enhancements.This special use access may be restricted to certain users.

Method 205 (Network) is any wired or wireless local area network (LAN),wide area network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN) as well astelephone connections and other electronic connections that help providemethod 200 (Client) to method 210 (Server(s)) and necessary data frommethod 215 (Game Data).

Method 210 (Server(s)) would include one or more computer servers thatwould host the game the user would play. These servers could be locatedanywhere and would be accessed by method 200 (Client) via method 205(Network). Information would flow from method 200 (Client) to method 210(Server(s)) as well as from method 210 (Server(s)) to method 200(Client).

Method 215 (Game Data) would be the electronic storage of the game dataand operational code and instructions and user data and would beaccessed by method 210 (Server(s)) as needed to be returned or acted onfrom instructions of a user from method 200 (Client).

FIG. 3—Stand Alone Basic Setup

In FIG. 3, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention methodinformation is given in FIG. 2—Network basic setup.

A Stand alone basic setup differs from a Network basic setup in thatmethod 210 (Server(s)) and 215 (Game Data) may be located on the samecomputer or device used for method 200 (Client). In this way, the gamemay be played without the need for method 205 (Network) and methods 210(Server(s)) and 215 (Game Data).

In this setup method 210a may include all or some or additionalprocesses of method 210 in the network setup. In this illustrationmethod 215a may include all or some or additional processes of method215 in the network setup.

Even though this is a stand alone setup methods 200, 210 a and 215 a mayallow for the use of method 205 (Network) to interact with methods 210(Server(s)) and method 215 (Game data). This allows a user to play agame that is a combination of a stand alone game and a network game. Theadvantage of this is that it doesn't require a continuous networkconnection. A user could connect to get game updates, timeline updates,buy or sell investments as well as other game activities.

FIG. 4—Display of Investments

In FIG. 4, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method240 (User selects investment type to display) allows the user to chooseamong the Investment Categories in the current game under Method 136(Play game) which one to display. Examples of these categories, but notlimited to might be Cash, Business, Real Estate and Finance.

After a user would choose an Investment Category, the availableinvestments for that category in the current game under Method 136 (Playgame) would be displayed. In some cases method 240 may be called torefresh the display as in the case, but not limited to where a TimeProgression has occurred (FIG. 6 Time Progressions).

For example, for the Business category, the investments might beAircraft Manufacturing, Transportation and Research. In the Real Estatecategory the investments might include Single family housing, SmallApartment complex, Office Building and Hotels. Finance might includeSavings account, Treasury Bills, Small Capital Stocks, Futures andForeign markets.

Method 240 may provide for user interaction in a variety of methods suchas interactively or automatically. This method may also provide wherethe user can select more than one investment category to display as wellas to display investments from other users.

The Display may be in various formats such as, but not limited to text,formatted text, computer file(s), electronic signal, video and audio orany combination therein.

Method 244 (Report on Investments held is displayed) would display theuser's current holdings at the current timeline for the investmentcategory selected in method 240 (User selects investment type todisplay). Method 244 may allow for displaying the user's holdings atvarious points along the timeline. This method may provide for thisselection to be made in method 240 and/or in this method.

Method 244 may provide for where the user can select more than oneinvestment category to display.

Method 244 may provide for showing the users debt. The Display may be invarious formats such as, but not limited to text, formatted text,computer file(s), electronic signal, video and audio or any combinationtherein.

FIG. 5—Buy Sell Investments Buying Activity

In FIG. 5, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method260 (User buys Investment) provides for a user to initiate buying aninvestment. An investment may mean a single investment or it may meanmore than one investment. For example, but not limited to—a user maywant to purchase in a single transaction 2 units of a Real Estateinvestment as well as 5 units of an Aircraft business.

Method 262 (Funds verification) determines that a user has enough fundsavailable to purchase the investment the user has chosen. Funds mayinclude, but not be limited to Cash. This method may also provide for auser to arrange for a loan or to use an existing loan or line of creditin which to purchase the investment. If there aren't enough fundsavailable then the purchase may not be made.

Method 262 may provide for a user to make a purchase from another useras well as making offers on their investments for sale.

In method 264 (Update investment record) the user's investment record isupdated for the purchase. Information recorded may include, but not belimited to the price paid and the timeline point as well as actual timeand seller information.

Method 268 (Funds reduction) will reduce funds used to purchase theinvestment or to increase the loan if paid for with a loan.

Method 268 may provide for corresponding information to be updated onthe seller's investment records if the purchase was made from anotheruser.

Selling Activity

Selling an investment is initiated in method 270 (User sellsInvestment). An investment may mean a single investment or it may meanmore than one investment. For example, but not limited to—a user maywant to sell in a single transaction 2 units of a Real Estate investmentas well as 5 units of an Aircraft business.

Method 270 may provide for a user to make a sale to another user as wellas letting other users know what they are offering to sell as well asthe selling or asking price.

In method 272 (Update Investment record) the user's investment record isupdated for the sale. Information recorded may include, but not limitedto the sale price and the timeline point as well as actual time andbuyer information.

Method 274 (Funds increase) will increase funds from the sale of theinvestment. It may also decrease the loan if investments were paid forwith a loan or the method may provide for funds to be applied to anyapplied to any other outstanding loans.

Method 274 may provide for corresponding information to be updated onthe buyer's investment records if the sale was made to another user.

FIG. 6—Time Progressions

In FIG. 6, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method302 (Time movement initiated) will provide for the initiation of timemovement along the timeline. See FIG. 7—Investment Calculations formethod 302.

Method 304 (Investment calculations) will provide for calculating thenew values for the user investments based on the user's present point onthe timeline. See FIG. 7—Investment Calculations for detail on thismethod.

Method 306 (Display of Investments) will provide for the displaying ofthe Investments. See FIG. 4 Display of Investments for detail on thismethod.

Method 308 (Display economic indicators) will display the economicindicators based on the current timeline position. For example, but notlimited to it may show the Prime Rate at 18%, Housing Starts at 4,152 M,Unemployment at 20.87%, Manufacturing at 209.3 MM and the stock index at103.81.

In addition, this method may display the previous period(s) of the indexsuch as but not limited to the last 3 periods or just the last period.

In some cases this method may display the future indicators. In thiscase, for example but not limited to, it may display these to help theuser better determine their investment choices. This would differslightly from FIG. 8 (Message display of future projections) where themessages may be more cryptic and may have occasional erroneousinformation.

The Display may be in various formats such as, but not limited to text,formatted text, computer file(s), electronic signal, video and audio orany combination therein.

Method 310 (Message displays of future projections) will provide for themessages to be displayed relating to future economic indicators. SeeFIG. 8 Message displays of future projections for detail on this method.

FIG. 7—Investment Calculations

In FIG. 7, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method302 (Time movement initiated) allows for time movement along thetimeline. This time movement may be automatic from a system generatedtime movement, or current user generated, or another user generated, orbased on some other mechanism the time line could be based upon such asbut not limited to some factor of actual time or some combinationtherein. Time movements may be forward and may include the ability to gobackward along the timeline. The time movements may be in a single stepsuch as but not limited to a 6 month period or it may span multiplesteps where a user may for example, but not limited to jumping 5 years.

After method 302 determines the time movement details, method 252(Determine current Investment values) will determine current Investmentvalues based on the cost of each Investment against the change incertain economic indicators—based on an Investment specific sensitivityto each indicator—from the original time of purchase until presentselected time. For example, but not limited to, an investment that cost$30 might be valued at $150 after 5 years on the timeline. Similarly,another investment purchased at the same time for the same $30 may bevalued at $40 after 5 years on the timeline.

After method 252 determines the current investment values, method 254(Determine new unit cost of Investments) will determine the new unitcost of Investments based on the relationship of the original cost tothe current timeline position as well as to a variable percentage basedon applicability. For example, but not limited to, an investment maycost $30 per unit at the start of the game. As the timeline moves, thiscost will be adjusted to where it may cost $150 a unit after 5 years onthe timeline.

FIG. 8—Message Displays of Future Projections

In FIG. 8, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method310 (Message displays of future projections) will initiate thedisplaying of a message or messages regarding the upcoming economicindicators for the current game. This method may be based on short termas well as long term look forwards in the timeline. This method mayprovide for including an erroneous factor in the returned messages inorder to simulate the sometimes unpredictable real world economics.

For example, but not limited to it may say that “After a quick increaseeconomist see interest rates going back down” to represent interestrates increasing for the next few periods and then heading down”. Thesemessages are defined in method 130 (Define game parameters).

Method 310 may provide for the messages to be cryptic messages in orderto simulate real world situations where investors may have to analyzethe message in order to make an educated guess on the direction of theeconomic index.

Method 310 may provide for the messages to give exact numbers on theupcoming economic indicators. This may be used for, but not limited tothe better illustration for the user as to how relationships between theeconomic indicators and the investment interact.

Method 322 (Display message) will display or return the messages. Thesemessages may be returned in various formats such as, but not limited totext, formatted text, computer file(s), electronic signal, video andaudio or any combination therein.

FIG. 9—Borrowing

In FIG. 9, an interactive strategic method for showing investmentstrategies in accordance with one embodiment of this invention method400 (Borrowing) provides for a user to incur debt and to pay onoutstanding debt. This method may provide for a user to incur debt whenpurchasing an investment or investments in whole or part. This methodmay provide for a user to incur debt in anticipation of purchasing aninvestment or investments.

Method 400 may provide for the repayment of debt as well asconsolidation of debts and modifications of terms or some combination.

This method may also provide for the borrowing from other users or thelending to other users or both. This method may provide for collectionprocesses and recovery processes.

This method may also provide for the charging of interest if a userincurs debt. This method may also provide for the establishment ofinterest rates at various points along the timeline or as a relationshipto an economic index.

Unless it's not physically possible, the described embodiments of thisnovel: invention are envisioned by the inventor to be performed in anysequence and/or combination and the components of items of theseembodiments may be combined in any manner.

While the inventor has described the preferred embodiments of this novelinvention, many variations and modifications are possible and theembodiments described herein are not limited by the specific disclosureabove, but rather should be limited only by the scope and the appendedclaims and legal equivalents thereof.

1. A system for illustrating the effects of different investments overtime under differing economic conditions comprising: One or more servercomputers to be accessed by one or more client terminals over acommunication network or a combined server-client computer which mayalso communicate with one or more servers and/or client terminals over acommunication network Software in machine readable code stored on atangible medium that when executed can communicate with the servercomputer(s) and the client terminal(s). Said software will allow theclient terminal(s) to interact with a strategic game which illustratesthe effects of different investments over time under differing economicconditions where the objective is for the user to better understand theeffects of different investments over time under differing economicconditions. The machine readable code will additionally allow forreceiving and processing user input and returning output to the userbased on said input. The machine readable code will additionally providesystem logic for illustrating the effects of different investments overtime under differing economic conditions comprising.
 2. The system inclaim 1 where the objectives are observing the effects of differentinvestments over time under differing economic conditions and providingthe achievement measurements and may provide awards for achievements. 3.The system in claim 1 wherein upon initial communication between theclient terminal and the server(s) there may be a welcome message.
 4. Thesystem in claim 1 wherein information on prior high achievement awardholders can be received by the user.
 5. The system in claim 1 whereinusers may receive instructions on game play including information oninvestments and economic indicators.
 6. The system in claim 1 whereinusers may receive instructions on game design.
 7. The system in claim 1wherein user information is stored.
 8. The system in claim 1 whereingame information is stored.
 9. The system in claim 1 wherein a user mayregister as a user on the server(s) and may include the ability for theuser to revise some portions of their registration information.
 10. Thesystem in claim 1 wherein a user may logon for more enhanced game play.11. The system in claim 1 wherein a user may require a verification ofminimum qualifications to play.
 12. The system in claim 1 wherein one ormore users may communicate and exchange information using but notlimited to game scenarios, text, formatted text, computer file(s),electronic signal, video and audio or any combination therein.
 13. Thesystem in claim 1 wherein Investment categories and related Investmentscan be defined and cataloged into one or more sets to allow the user toexperience different scenarios.
 14. The system in claim 13 wherein oneor more of the Investments relate to Business, Real Estate, Land, NonProfit or Financial.
 15. The system in claim 1 wherein economictimelines can be defined and cataloged into multiple sets to allow theuser to experience different scenarios.
 16. The system in claim 15wherein one or more of the economic indicators relate to any present,past or future US Government reported indicators. (Interest, RealEstate, Land, Labor, Business or Financial)
 17. The system in claim 1wherein a user may be allowed to borrow to purchase investments.
 18. Thesystem in claim 1 wherein investments can be valued over a timelineeither forward or backward in time based on differing economicconditions.
 19. The system in claim 1 wherein a user may choose a gamefrom one or more different scenarios or to continue a game previouslystarted. The user may also be able to choose options to enhance theirexperience.
 20. The system in claim 1 wherein information regardingfuture economic conditions is able to be received by the user.
 21. Thesystem in claim 1 wherein reports can be received by the user on one ormore of their investments at particular places along the timeline. 22.The system in claim 1 wherein a user can suspend or terminate play of agame.
 23. The system in claim 1 wherein a user can receive informationon prior and in process games.
 24. The system in claim 1 wherein at theconclusion of game play user and system statistic would be updated andany system cleanup would be performed.
 25. The system in claim 1 whereingame play may be allowed for group play of two or more users.
 26. Thesystem in claim 1 wherein during game play a user can receiveinformation on investment categories and related investments that a maybe purchased. In a game with more than one player a user may in additionor instead of be able to receive information regarding investments forsale by other users.
 27. The system in claim 1 wherein during game playa user can purchase one or more investments.
 28. The system in claim 27wherein verification of purchase criteria is determined during apurchase.
 29. The system in claim 27 wherein after a successful purchaseis made a user's investment record is updated as well as debt record ifdebt was used. Source of funds for purchase is reduced unless debt wasused in which case debt is increased or some combination therein. Ifpurchase involved another user then that user's records would be updatedalso.
 30. The system in claim 1 wherein during game play a player canreceive information on their current holdings and debt.
 31. The systemin claim 1 wherein during game play a user can sell one or moreinvestments. In a game with more than one player a user may in additionbe able to provide information on one or more of their investments forsale as well as the ability to sell those investments to other users.32. The system in claim 31 wherein after a successful sale is made theuser's investment record is updated as well as debt record if debt wasused. Source of funds is increased unless debt was used in which casedebt is decreased or some combination therein. If sale involved anotheruser then that user's records would be updated also.
 33. The system inclaim 1 wherein during game play a player can move along the timeline inthe game when it is a user instituted move game.
 34. The system in claim33 wherein the user moves the timelines forward but may be allowed tomove the timeline backward as well.
 35. The system in claim 33 whereintimeline movement may be initiated from another source in a non userinstituted move game.
 36. The system in claim 1 wherein during game playa player can receive information about one or more current economicindicators based on the current timeline position.
 37. The system inclaim 36 wherein a player may be able to receive one or more economicindicators from one or more past and/or future timeline positions. 38.The system in claim 1 wherein during game play the unit purchase cost ofone or more investments may change relative to their position on thetimeline.
 39. The system in claim 1 wherein during game interest couldbe charged to a player if they have incurred debt.